The Philadelphia Union dispatched Pumas UNAM with ease in an international friendly at Talen Energy Stadium on Saturday, scoring three first-half goals to bank a 3-0 win that turned contentious just before intermission after some rough challenges by the visitors.
Sporting special jersey numbers adorned with the flags of Latin American countries in commemoration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Philly took control early.
HomegrownAnthony Fontana opened the scoring with a well-struck free kick over the Pumas wall, and Andrew Wooten doubled the advantage with a firm downward header off a Fafa Picault cross.
Picault’s speed and guile tormented the Liga MX heavyweights and he soon got in on the scoring with a calmly-taken penalty kick after Wooten was fouled in the box. Tempers threatened to boil over when Pumas’ Juan Iturbe hacked down Picault from behind on the stroke of halftime, earning a red card and sparking confrontations between the two teams.
The second stanza played out less eventfully as Philly, who return to MLS action with a big visit from league leaders LAFC on Saturday, bagged a win while also handing club debuts to RJ Allen and Joe Bendik and a first start for Michee Ngalina.
